Xcelerator... What should be done?

[zeppelindude]

Today i went back to Knott's Berry Farm, loving it the whole time. But i did notice, however, that Xcelerator was closed from 10:00AM to 4:30 PM. once it opened up again i got lucky enough to ride without much wait, but when i got off, the wait appeared to be an hour long. Also, every time they were testing it, people from all parts off the park went running thinking it was open.

I think that Knott's needs to do something about it. One, a ride with that much popularity that it gets an hour wait in the first 10 minutes its open should not be broken on memorial weekend. Two, if it is broken, people should know without having to trek halfway across the park to find out its just tests.

What do you guys think?

[Dutchman]

The problem is not with Knotts, really. The problem is that it's an Intamin rocket coaster, the first one in the USA I believe. They're all problematic, with the possible exception of the one at Hersheypark (which by the way is the only one that doesn't break any records). These are highly complex machines,(typical of Intamin) and their past history indicates that it doesn't take much for them to shut themsleves down.

[sir clinksalot]

I wasn't aware there were issues with the ride anymore. At least I hadn't heard of anything.

Yes, it's an intamin rocket coasters, and since they push the limits there are problems with them periodically. But I don't think they deserve ALL the blame.

The parks have an idea of what they want, they ask Intamin to build it. You'd think with all the problems parks would realize they don't need to have the next biggest, baddest coaster.

Also, most of the european rocket coasters don't have any problems. I think it's more of a Six Flags/Cedar Fair problem than people want to admit.

I mean, the only non Six Flags/Cedar Fair park to have one in the U.S. is Hershey, and there haven't been any problems with it.

[Peabody]

^ Actually the European ones have had serious issues as well, some much more so than Xcellerator. (OF course, nothing can top the big 2 American ones with problems.)

"Stelth" had a Kingda-Ka-esque "blow up" that resulted in weeks of being down. Rita has had downtime equal to or exceeding Xcellerator. I can't speak of the other 2 personally.

But as you said, these high-tech rides are problematic, and there's likely little to do. Regular coasters are downright simple machines by comparison!

[sir clinksalot]

^ But the euro versions were resolved SO much quicker than similar problems on the american coasters.

[k_peek_2000]

I think the biggest problem is the fact that it is pink.

[Ranger Rick]

Thats Coral and teal.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the amount of hours Xcelerator runs. Is there another park running their ride 364 days a year, in all types of weather?

[CoasterMatt]

HAHAHA!!! All types of weather? Knott's shuts down their coasters if it so much as mists.

I've got video of Kanonen in Europe running in a full downpour.

[DLRP_bopazot]

well yes it all depends on management and how much budget they put for their Maintenance .

I'm still surprised than Except Knotts and Cedar Point all Intamin's Rockets Coasters have the Over the shoulders restraints like Kingda Ka or Storm Runner.

When i went to Alton Tower last year RITA queen of speed broke down for a while a reopened like 3 Hours later .

Could you Imagine this at Knotts ?

Ask Cedar Fair to buy new trains and stuff for their rides except repaint those ride so UGLY . lol

[sir clinksalot]

Originally Posted by CoasterMatt

HAHAHA!!! All types of weather? Knott's shuts down their coasters if it so much as mists.

I've got video of Kanonen in Europe running in a full downpour.

Or doesn't open the park AT ALL.

[Ranger Rick]

Originally Posted by sir clinksalot

Or doesn't open the park AT ALL.

I was thinking temperature and humidity. They are bigger factors than rain.

[sir clinksalot]

^ What CoasterMatt and me were referring to is the fact if it so much as mists, Knott's will close most if not all of it's coasters. And alot of times doesn't open the park at all.

[Ranger Rick]

Yes this is true. But they are still putting more hours/more shots on a coaster per year than any other park. With short rehabs, you get a lot of wear and tear, that is not always being fixed.

[sir clinksalot]

^ WB Movie World in Australia is open every day but Christmas and doesn't have problems with it's rocket-coaster. In fact, I've never heard of any problems with it.

Again, I'm not saying Intamin isn't somewhat to blame, but there certainly is some of the blame that has to go to Knott's.

It's not like they are new at this maintaining coasters stuff. Just look at Montezooma's Revenge.

[DisneyMickey]

Paint it.